Here it is seen in small troops of from ten to forty in number, toppling over the waves and lookin'»- truly
interesting. Such scenes as this may be frequently observed in the Firth o f Forth, at the mouths o f the
larger rivers in Scotland, and in similar situations in some parts of Ireland. Its wing-powers, when assailed
by the gunner in his sea-boat, are sufficient to enable it to get out of harm’s way, by fllyino- seaward, or
from one part of the estuary to another ; its diving-powers also are by no means insignificant. It is therefore
not readily approachable, and the acquisition o f specimens is no easy task. When paired and breeding
on the far-off islands o f the mysterious northern regions, it is much more tame in disposition, and attired in
a dress which closely assimilates in colour to the surrounding herbage o f the soppy fells with their moss-
covered stones and scanty vegetation.
Professor Reinhardt includes it in his “ List of the Birds hitherto observed in Greenland” (Ibis, 1861)
but does not furnish us with any details respecting it. Captain Blakiston, in his notes " On the Birds o f thé
Interior o f British North America” (Ihis, 1863), mentions that he saw it in Hudson's Bay; and Mr. Ross
states that it is abundant on the. Mackenzie. Mr. A. E. Verrill, in his “ Notes on the Natural History
o f Anticosti,” published in the Proceedings of the Boston Natural-History Society for 1862, states that the
Long-tailed Duck breeds abundantly, and is very common there, Mr. A. Newton, in his “ Notes on the Birds
of Spitsbergen ” (Ibis, 1865), says the Harelda glacialis “ is one of the few regular visitants to that country,
where, however, it seems to be scarce ; but it occurs as far north as the Dépôt Holm,’lat. 80” N., where
Dr. Malmgren sawafemale bird. He also saw a pair in Kobbe Bay, on the 28th of May, 1861, and in 1864
on the first o f August, met with afatnily party of live on a small pool o f fresh water on one o f the Horn’
Sound Isbnds.” . Mr. H. Whitely, jun., obtained several specimens at Hakodadi, in Japan, in January 1865,
from 'native bird-catchers, and states that it was common in the harbour in winter (Ibis, 1867) ; and
Mr. 11. Brown includes.it'in ’his “ Synopsis o f the Birds of Vancouver Island ’.’¡(Ibis, 1868). The late
Mr. Wheelwright, in his ■ Spring and Summer in' Lapland,' says “ The Long-tailed Ducks made their
appearance on the Tana river towards the middle o f May, and, after remaining there a short time, retired
up the fell-Iakes to breed. Before breeding we always saw them in small flocks ; and I think o f all Ducks
these are the most restless ; for they are never still, .but continually chasing each other about, uttering a pleasing
note, which Nilsson likens to the tone of a clarionet, ' a gleck, a gleek.’ The only nest I obtained was on
the fell-meadow where the Lap Buntings hreed. I was walking down a narrow track-way by thé side o f a fell-
fake, on the night o f the 27th o f June, when I nearly trod upon an old female sitting on her nest. Although
her head was turned towards me, she never attempted to rise, and I caught her on the nest, which contained
seven fresh eggs. The next morning I saw two young broods on the water; apparently a few days old
During the breedmg-season the old males appear to; leave the females and congregate in small flocks • and
even in the end o f June we used to see, occasionally,..six or eight males on the river at Quickiock."
Mr. Hewitson “ met with this species in Norway in considerable numbers, always in flocks, roving from
place to place, and apparently unattached to any particular localities, sometimes sweeping past within a
few yards with great rapidity, uttering their strikingly wild musical and most interesting cries
I “ Eggs were brought from Iceland by Mr. G. C. Atkinson, who found a nest near the margin o f a small
lake, lined with down and containing six egg s.
“ Mr. Proctor tells me that the bird is common in the last-mentioned country, and that it makes its nest
amongst low brushwood and aquatic plants at the edge o f the fresh water, o f a few stems o f grass and reeds
well lined with down, and usually lays from six to ten eggs, which, however, in one instance were twelvé
in number When recent they are o f an asparagus-green colour, approaching to apple-green, with the shell
smooth ; of a broad oval form, an inch and eleven twelfths to two inches and a twelfth in length and
generally an inch and a half in breadth.” 5 '
“ The male,” says Macgillivray, I in swimming, raises his tail obliquely, in rough water almost erects I
andAs remarkable for the grace and vivacity o f his movements;, Their flight is rapid, direct, and generally
performed at the height o f a few feet. They rise easily from the water, especially when facing a breeze'
■ S Ü B H B S°metimes H the f f l I frequently at night, they emit varioui
ra er plaintive cries, as well as cackling, o f various shorter guttural notes, which I think can neither
te easily imitated nor well expressed in words. In the north-eastern isles this bird is known by the name of
Caloe as well as the whimsical one o f Coal-and-Candle-light, both derived from its cries,; and in the
Hebrides » named Ianbhoehail, ¡an signifying a bird, and bhocbail expressing its soft protracted note I
he front figure in the opposite plate represents a male, o f the natural size,' in winter plumage the
reduced figures a male and a female in that o f summer. 1 "mage, the